View full sizeLonnie Timmons III, The Plain DealerOhio Treasurer Josh Mandel, the Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, shown in a March 2011 file photo.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — From one Republican hopeful in a key U.S. Senate race to another, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel has weighed in with criticism of U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, whose comments about "legitimate rape" and abortion have stoked a political maelstrom.

"Congressman Todd Akin's remarks on rape victims are offensive and wrong," Mandel said in a statement emailed to The Plain Dealer. "I am appalled by his comments, as I'm sure citizens across Ohio are, and I believe there is no place or context in which such language is defensible."

Until Sunday, Akin was considered a strong challenger to incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri. But his stock immediately nosedived after a television interview with Charles Jaco of the Fox affiliate in St. Louis. Jaco asked Akin whether abortion should be legal in the case of rape.

“It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really
rare," Akin responded. "If it’s a legitimate
rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But
let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there
should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist,
and not attacking the child.”

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